Jump to content

2017 Times Square car attack: Difference between revisions

Coordinates: 40°45′29″N 73°59′08″W / 40.757994°N 73.985574°W / 40.757994; -73.985574
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Content deleted Content added
No edit summary
No edit summary
Line 19: Line 19:
| fatalities = 1
| fatalities = 1
| injuries = 22
| injuries = 22
| suspects = Richard Rojas
| accussed = Richard Rojas
| weapons = [[Honda Accord (North America eighth generation)|2009 Honda Accord]]
| weapons = [[Honda Accord (North America eighth generation)|2009 Honda Accord]]
}}
}}

Revision as of 00:01, 19 May 2017

2017 Times Square car crash
2017 Times Square car attack is located in New York City
Times Square
Times Square
2017 Times Square car attack (New York City)
2017 Times Square car attack is located in the United States
2017 Times Square car attack
2017 Times Square car attack (the United States)
LocationTimes Square, New York City
Coordinates40°45′29″N 73°59′08″W / 40.757994°N 73.985574°W / 40.757994; -73.985574
Date18 May 2017
c. 12:20 EDT
Weapons2009 Honda Accord
Deaths1
Injured22

On 18 May 2017 a car crashed into Times Square in New York City. One person was killed and at least 20 were injured.[1] The suspect is said to be from The Bronx with a history of driving under the influence.[2]

Incident

The driver of a maroon 2009 Honda Accord sped into pedestrians in Times Square after having jumped the sidewalk on the west side of Seventh Avenue at 42nd Street, continuing for three blocks before crashing at the northwest corner of 45th Street and Broadway.[3][4] As the driver was trying to flee from his car, a traffic agent tackled him and took him into custody.[4]

People

Victims

A person died as a result of the incident and 22 people were injured.[5]

Suspect

Richard Rojas (born 1991), a 26-year-old resident of The Bronx and a military veteran, was arrested after the crash. Rojas previously served in the United States Navy and had two prior arrests for driving under the influence.[6] These arrests came in 2008 and 2015.[3]

Rojas enlisted in the Navy in 2011 and was an electrician's mate fireman apprentice. In 2012 he served aboard the USS Carney, a destroyer. He was most recently based at Naval Air Station Jacksonville and was discharged in 2014.[7]

He was arrested in September 2012 after assaulting a cab driver and yelling at an officer, "My life is over", in addition to threatening to kill police officers after his release. He also spent two months in military prison in 2013. A neighbor stated that his family was Dominican.[8][9] One of his friends stated that he had developed a drinking problem after his military service, using it as a "medication" for his "dark thoughts and moods".[10] A week before the incident, Rojas was arrested and charged with pointing a knife at a notary, whom he accused of stealing his identity.[7]

Investigation

Bill de Blasio, the Mayor of New York City, and other officials have said there is no indication the incident was act of terrorism.[3] Several law enforcement officials stated the suspect thought he was hearing voices and expected to die. The suspect, Richard Rojas, tested negative for alcohol, but additional testing was done to determine whether he was taking any drugs.[7] The drug test came back as positive.[11]

Police sources stated that he admitted smoking something before driving the car.[12] In addition, the New York Post reported that some police sources said that the suspect stated that he tried to kill the pedestrians so he could be shot and commit a suicide by cop.[13][14] Law enforcement sources also told Eyewitness News he was apparently high on synthetic marijuana and appeared extremely impaired after the crash.[11] Per other sources he had also stated that he claimed to hear voices the police were going to kill him and stating "This was the last day on earth." His interview was stated to be abnormal and along the lines of rambling.[15]

See also

References

  1. ^ Trotta, Daniel; Allen, Jonathan (18 May 2017). "Car slams into Times Square pedestrians, killing one, injuring 22". New York: Reuters. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
  2. ^ Winter, Tom; Dienst, Jonathan; Ortiz, Erik (18 May 2017). "Car Rams Into Pedestrians in NYC's Times Square, Killing at Least 1". New York: NBC News. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
  3. ^ a b c Sanchez, Ray (18 May 2017). "Times Square car incident: 1 dead, 22 injured; driver in custody". CNN. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
  4. ^ a b Rosenberg, Eli; Rashbaum, William K. (18 May 2017). "One Dead and 22 Injured as Car Rams Into Pedestrians in Times Square". The New York Times. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
  5. ^ Demick, Barbara; Zavis, Alexandra; Haller, Vera (18 May 2017). "One killed and 22 injured when a car plows into pedestrians in New York's Times Square". New York: Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
  6. ^ Bacon, John; Diebel, Matthew (18 May 2017). "Car slams into crowd in New York's Times Square; 1 dead, 22 hurt". New York: USA Today. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
  7. ^ a b c Long, Colleen; Hays, Tom (18 May 2017). "Officials: Driver Who Crashed Into Pedestrians in Times Square Thought He Was Hearing Voices". Time. New York: Associated Press. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
  8. ^ Donovan, Brittney (18 May 2017). "Former Naval Station Mayport sailor arrested in fatal Time Square crash". CBS News. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
  9. ^ Spicer, Jonathan (18 May 2017). "Accused Times Square driver's troubled past included Navy prison". Reuters. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
  10. ^ Gardener, Aiden; Kapp, Trevor (18 May 2017). "Deadly Times Square Crash Driver Pulled Knife on Man 7 Days Earlier: NYPD". DNAinfo.com. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
  11. ^ a b "Sources: Times Square driver was apparently high on synthetic marijuana (K2) at time of pedestrian crash". ABC News.
  12. ^ "Crash: Who Is Richard Rojas?". CBS News.
  13. ^ Celona, Larry. "Times Square maniac was allegedly attempting suicide-by-cop". New York Post. {{cite news}}: |first2= missing |last2= (help); Text "Mongelli" ignored (help)
  14. ^ Law, James; Craw, Victoria. "Car mows down pedestrians in Times Square, New York". New York Post.
  15. ^ Brennan, Christopher; Crane-Newman, Molly; Parascandola, Rocco; Tracy, Thomas; Shapiro, Rich. "Times Square car crash kills 1, injures 22; Navy veteran cuffed". New York Daily News.